Tag Archives: acoustic

Single Release: newsong {Hank May} (Best New Music)

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | 1 Comment

‘newsong’ by Hank May (Los Angeles, California) *

Hank May was formerly Rock Dove. His Paper Boat EP got Best New Music here at Dingus accompanied by high praise for the song-writer. Last month he released a single, now titled under the singer/guitarist’s birth name, called ‘newsong‘. It’s back to brilliance for the lush layered folk tracks that take what, to my dispair, most would call a “Bon Iver” sound and bring out power and strength. Though the track is acoustic and though the vocals capture an airy softness, the tectonic play between harmonic parts creates an unshakable foundation to which beauty and sadness, at the same time, unfold. @Dingusonmusic

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Posted in A: Dingus, C: Best New Music, C: Staff Favorites, T: News, T: Single

Tagged acoustic, C: Best New Music, DIY, hank may, harmonic, indie, Los Angeles, New York, newsong, rock, soft rock, vocalist

Brainwater EP

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

Brainwater EP by Tim Fitz (Sydney, Australia) *

Tim Fitz is a name that sticks with me from the earliest days of our DIY search. It was a while back that the Beforetime EP was released and we dubbed it with the honorary Best New Music label. Before the days of using Feedly as a method for keeping up with our favorite artists Bandcamp pages it would seem that we missed Brainwater. The leading single is ‘Mr Streetwise’ a jolly pop song that slams the piano as hard as the next guy- but as always there’s something somber peaking out from beneath as emphasized by subtle use of electronic practice. As much of Fitz’ work is concerned, the album is full of regrets, wishes and other normal human emotions emoted on a profound level. The album is meant to be enjoyed from cover to cover as previously deserved and delivers no less on the thrills than his first. As always, there crowning achievement is a fluid movement between electronic aggression and acoustic beauty. Again, well done. [Free Download] @Dingusonmusic

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Posted in A: Dingus, C: Free Music, C: Staff Favorites, T: LP/EP

Tagged acoustic, Australia, brainwater ep, indie, pop, rock, Sydney, Tim Fitz

The Broadcaster EP

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

The Broadcaster EP by Charles Keith Sztyk (Union, NJ)

Music Monday for me begins at home in New Jersey, both physically and musically. Fighting off a cold due to inconsistent Spring weather and sifting through music to feature today brought me to one of my favorite songwriters, Charles Keith Sztyk. He has been featured here in the past but now with a full 4-song EP to push, more praise from the DIY Dingus council is only appropriate. Knowing the many sides of Charles makes me approach his recordings with a bias but also very open to where production can take his music in alternate directions. This EP is full of distorted lo-fi vocals and dirty guitar, where as I’m used to the angelic voice displayed at live shows. This is only more reason for fans to experience the music not only digitally but at their local venue too. The songs are dynamic and all have their own strengths, flowing from one to another and speaking for themselves with powerful lyrics, melody and performance. I guess that is easier to maintain when you record every instrument yourself as did Charlie. This is a dark yet uplifting batch of songs that a broad demographic can and will relate to but certainly an EP to be embraced by fans of M. Ward and other indie-folk modern icons. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged A: Dingus, acoustic, Alternative, Ambient, Charles Keith Sztyk, DIY, EP, Folk, folk rock, hipster, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie rock, indie-folk, New Jersey, New Music, pop, rock, songwriter, union

Floating Feather

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Ryan Egan | Leave a comment

Floating Feather by Fox and The Bird (Dallas, TX)

I think it’s safe to say that I experienced Fox and The Bird as they should be for the first time, live and unplugged in both a backyard BBQ and a living room in Austin, TX. Leaving downtown Austin during SXSW and joining this band among numerous other talents for a BBQ was quite possibly my favorite memory of the week; great food, even better people and music all night at a quaint Texas home. Fox and The Bird were playing minus their female vocal element but the guys held down every song as well as any folk trio ever could, ‘Floating Feather’ being a song that stuck with me all the way home to Brooklyn. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: Single

Tagged A: Dingus, acoustic, Alternative, Austin, Dallas, DIY, floating feather, Folk, folk pop, fox and the bird, indie, indie pop, indie-folk, New Music, pop, singer songwriter, SXSW, Texas

November

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Benjamin Spinrad | Leave a comment

November by Grace and Tony (Lawrence County, Tennessee)

Austere and somehow still adorable, this future-folk duo weaves a simple, full, and expressive experience. The banjo, thank the heavens for the banjo, the moment that just passed brings to mind ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’, ‘November’ is nothing like that song. Its another tune for fleeting raindrops and windshield wipers and headlights and endless night. @dingusrecords

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Posted in A: Spinrad, T: Single

Tagged acoustic, bluegrass, Folk, folk punk, punkgrass, Tennessee

False Starts

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Ryan Egan | 1 Comment

False Starts by On the Water (Philadelphia, PA)

On the Water are a high-energy folk collective fronted by songwriter Fletcher VanVliet. I’ll refrain from a too in-depth description and allow their nearly party style scream and stomp arrangements to speak for it all. False Starts is a fun record of 9 songs that is fully realized and evolved by the twenty or so additional musicians involved in the production. I would love for this sort of group to release concept albums in various genres from punk to pop to hip hop and more because the enthusiasm and belief that clearly goes into the performances is undeniable and that would just be incredibly interesting to hear. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged A: Dingus, acoustic, country, false starts, Folk, indie, indie music, indie-folk, on the water, PA, Pennsylvania, philadelphia, philly, rock

The Thinking Man’s Filth

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

3565938547-1 The Thinking Man’s Filth by Aaron Lee Tasjan (Brooklyn by way of Ohio)*

As I write this I’m hearing the music of Aaron Lee Tasjan, specifically his new release The Thinking Man’s Filth, for the very first time. With certain discoveries it is important to type away immediately because the sheer excitement of hearing a voice this refreshing can inspire volumes. I won’t dive into his bio, which is full of tours with Alberta Cross and singles produced by Jack White; no I’d rather focus on the raw power of this new record that should be embraced as a gem by the DIY community. The force of nature recorded here is comparable to Jeff Tweedy, Ryan Adams and other alt-folk legends but with this solo endeavor Tasjan proves he doesn’t need a Wilco or any Cardinals. The chunky, distorted, stringy guitar throughout the album mixed with ageless, soul-wrenched vocals leaves almost no room for a rock band. Clearly the kind of cat well traveled and with songs and proficiency to show for it, Tasjan is your favorite songwriter you didn’t know existed. On top of all that, to whom it may concern, I swear this dude may have been the inspiration for the Richard Katz character in Franzens’ novel Freedom. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Staff Favorites, T: LP/EP

Tagged aaron lee tasjan, acoustic, alberta cross, alt-country, alt-folk, Alternative, Brooklyn, country, Folk, indie, indie-folk, Jack White, Jeff Tweedy, New York City, rock, Ryan Adams, singer songwriter, the thinking mans filth, third man records, Wilco

Family Trees

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

1122676734-1 Family Trees by Young Readers (Norman, OK)

I decided that with another big independent music festival approaching (Torontos’ NXNE) I’d start sifting through the list of announced artists and see what DIY deliciousness I could stumble on for Dingus. My first click brought me to Young Readers, an Oklahoma-based mellow folk group with a very relaxing, mature sound and some great festival cred to their name. The band has done quite a bit of touring, hitting up SXSW & other great festivals and just a year ago released a free EP titled Family Trees. The 6-track release features warm, acoustic mid-west style folk songs with string arrangements that create, dare I say, a sound almost like a folk Jonsi. Refreshing to hear this group with all the Mumford & Sons and the Lumineers up in our grill lately. Check this band out, they’ll be in a city near you soon! [Free Download] @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, C: Free Music, T: LP/EP

Tagged acoustic, Alternative, country, Folk, indie, indie music, indie-folk, Norman, nxne, Oklahoma, pop, singer songwriter, SXSW, Young Readers

Late Nite Howl

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

546873797-1 Late Nite Howl by Late Nite Howl (Tijuana, Mexico)

A simple set of folk songs with a soft touch of psychedelia. There is some Simon and Garfunkel in this, some spaghetti western, and some true South American soul. Pablo Dodero, you are apparently from the Mexican hardcore-punk scene, I picture this world quite specifically. ‘Insomnia‘ conjures this image most vividly, dingy clubs in mexico, like the high and mighty days of the Bowery, Skinheads, Punks, Negros, and Needles. Sounds lovely. Maybe I’ll make a show sometime. @TheSnakeRecords

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Posted in A: Spinrad, T: LP/EP

Tagged acoustic, Alternative, electronic, Folk, indie, las vegas, lo-fi, mellow, Mexico, netlabel, nevada, pop, psychedelic, rock, tijuana

Maple Ridge

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Andrew Prieto | Leave a comment

4020573823-1 Maple Ridge by Swear & Shake (Brooklyn, NY)

Anyone who is or has ever been embedded within a local music scene knows that some groups and artists have the hustle, and some don’t. Swear & Shake, currently residing in Brooklyn and relentlessly touring the US, has it. Early on this is a band that realized their folk-pop songwriting abilities and made full use of the power they could wield with adorable front-woman Kari Spieler and the gentlemanly Adam McHeffey right alongside. Their long-awaited ep Maple Ridge was released last April thanks to the support of a huge Kickstarter community and opens immediately with an upbeat, vaudevillian love song called ‘Marbles’. Although the other songs lose the trumpet and ragtime feel, each track brings something unique to the album. On the surface, it’s impossible to not draw comparisons to folk-duo all stars She & Him, but listeners will find that there is so much more to this group once they dig in. Anyone attending SXSW or Governor’s Ball this year will be happy to discover this very deserving new band on the bill. @thinknotsleep

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Posted in A: Egan, T: LP/EP

Tagged acoustic, Brooklyn, Folk, indie, indie music, indie pop, indie-folk, Maple Ridge, New Music, New York, pop, She & Him, singer songwriter, Swear & Shake

Tag Archives: acoustic

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